Hi all
Here's this week's blog. Finding it hard to write blogs daily, not because of time, but because it's difficult to write without going into the whole "we did this, then we did this, then we did that" kind of writing which is not only boring to write, it's boring to read. So, I've started doing quick, easy, daily status updates on Callum's World page on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/CallumsWorld?ref=hl
And then a proper blog at end of week (or whenever I get time over the weekend).
So, what has Callum been doing this week? Well, for starters he's been very lethargic and typically teenager floppy lazy hrumph boy. He isn't rude or grumpy, but I am getting the occasional 'grunt' reply when he's asked a question. Hey ho, to be expected with a 13, nearly 14 year old, even with a neuro typical kid, let alone an Aspi one.
Our days still always start with a cuppa and a sit-curled-up-on-sofa-in-pjs chat. I've normally been up a couple of hours before he surfaces, so it's actually nice to take a bit of time out and talk. We go over how we slept, whether he had good or bad dreams, what time he finally got to sleep and what book he's currently reading. We then discuss the day and I talk over what I expect from him. He can then ask any questions, raise any queries and, quite often, try and compromise with me if he's really not feeling up to anything huge. He can drive a hard bargain sometimes, but then so can I. It always works out suitable for us both in the end though and I think it's a good lesson in negotiating.
It was our week for two trampolining lessons this week, private with Kim and group with James. Kim always works him really hard and Callum certainly knows he's done half an hour of workout. He was a bit worried this week as it's half term and he was concerned that there might be a holiday club going on. He hates the idea that they might be staring at him and judging what he does, even though I am constantly telling him that they spend most of their time with their heads in their lunch boxes and talking amongst themselves. Luckily there wasn't a club and he had the whole centre to himself (kids wise). Somersaults went well although he did graze his chin after a particularly clumsy landing and he's practising the routine that he has to tack the somersault onto. Kim always stops the lesson about 10 mins before the end to do conditioning exercises with Callum, which I might add, he hates. This week he was getting a bit bolshy and telling Kim he wouldn't do it, but Kim, like James, is very good at convincing him otherwise. Came out absolutely knackered and had definitely earned his Subway. Group session today was more of a fun lesson which suited Callum.
As to 'lessons', as it's half term in school world, we haven't done anything too in depth, but I have asked him to do some more self monitored work like Khan Academy maths and today's science was reading matter with questions to answer. He's getting a lot better at working on his own, but still needs me to dish out work rather than being self motivated.
Socially he's had a pretty good week too. Monday was spent around his friend's house playing on the Xbox and Playstation. He loves going there as he has known his friend and his family since nursery school, so he's completely comfortable there and I have no worries about leaving him. Wednesday was the usual big sis visit with Merlin the dog and a now ever growing bump. No cooking this week though as not in the mood and was tired (more later). So lots of chat and play on Roblox. Today, after trampo, it was the now regular visit back from Lauren for tea and cake and even more Roblox.
Tomorrow is his dad's birthday and we still have a couple of bits to get ready for his return from work, so a shopping visit in the morning and possibly a cake bake in the afternoon, but that may not get done until Saturday. We like to spread out birthdays in this house, usually over a week, and as we are dog sitting his uncle's dog overnight on Saturday, we may have tea and birthday cake on Sunday afternoon when they return to pick up the hound.
He's had a good week even though he had a visit to the osteopath on Tuesday evening. He only goes about once every six months, normally when he starts complaining his shoulder or neck feels stiff. He likes going and Emma is brilliant with him, although he had to take off his Tshirt this time and he doesn't like stripping off in front of strangers. A bit of cracking later and all he wanted to do was go to sleep, hence the sleepy eyed, excessively lazy Wednesday. He's additionally happy as he received two more books in the Phoenix Files saga in the post along with dad's presents, so he's now rereading the previous three books in preparation of next two. One more to go apparently, but that's not been released yet.
Sorry no pics this week, not really done anything worth photographing, but hopefully be back on track with that next time.
Cya
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Thursday, 24 May 2012
TEEN + HEAT = VERY LITTLE DONE
Hiya
I know I should be doing a daily blog, but to be honest we really haven't done enough to warrant a daily one. Weather has changed here in the South and it's become hot, very hot! It appears we will have to get used to swinging from jumpers, raincoats and wellies one day to vest tops, sunhats and sandals the next without a period of acclimatisation in between. Add to this the fact that, as previously mentioned, Callum is reading until all hours and sleeping in later (Issac Newton's theory springs to mind "every action has an equal and opposite reaction") and we don't exactly have a lot of room in the day for getting things done before Phil is home and chaos reigns. Phil is also an Aspi (undiagnosed), but is one for strict routines (his, not ours) and woe betide we alter those or get in the way of them. So anything we want to do that requires the kitchen, utility room or the TV and often the garden too has to be completed before 3.30pm! Bit like school really. I know he would argue that he isn't like this at all, but having experienced the hrumphing and the moaning, I beg to differ.
So this week; what have we achieved? Monday wasn't too bad as we managed to write up our visit to the Imperial War Museum that happened the week before. We did separate write ups for each part of the day as the Art Exhibition was going into the colour and light project we are supposed to be doing and the museum part is in the unrelated days out folder. It appears we are doing rather a lot of those and I might have to go through it at the end of the 'school' year and perhaps pick bits out to expand upon into projects for next year. The write up took rather longer than expected as, as usual, we got sidetracked by conversation, questions and online searching. That's the one big thing that I love about home education, it can wander off topic, go onto lots of different pathways and then come full circle back to where we started. Found a really interesting website whilst having a conversation on timezones (don't ask how we got onto those as I can't remember) which had lots of other stuff on it too. We ended up 'playing' on here for ages:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
Tuesday was Faversham meet. Callum happy as quite a few of his mates were there, so he didn't end up reading the whole time. I did find it particularly funny though when I went to look for him as his mate and himself were in the computer room (no surprise there) but at opposite ends of the room talking to each other on Roblox (no surprise there either). Oh and he actually spoke to another adult! Well, I say spoke he answered her polite enquiries with stilted two word answers, but it's better than nothing. Davinia, you are honoured! hehe
Wednesday I didn't see him all day pretty much. Terri was over and as she needed to use the computer, he was upstairs in his room playing with his tanks and watching Family Guy and Have I Got News For You on his telly (he has Tivo in his room). Lots of laughter coming from his room with the added occasional 'explosion' from his game he'd made up.
Today he didn't surface until 9.50am!!!! And even then he was a bit lethargic - he'd been reading until gone 11pm the night before again. So we decided to have a PJ day and watch a documentary that I'd recorded about why we need the moon. It was really interesting and the presenter, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock was brilliant as it was explained in easy to understand terms (good for me as well, haha). It isn't on iPlayer that I can see, but the link below has some information and clips. Well worth watching if you can find it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00yb5jp
This afternoon we dug out Callum's Alpine trough (well it's an old sink to be precise) and repotted with some salvaged old plants and some new ones we bought at the garden festival a few weeks back.
I know I should be doing a daily blog, but to be honest we really haven't done enough to warrant a daily one. Weather has changed here in the South and it's become hot, very hot! It appears we will have to get used to swinging from jumpers, raincoats and wellies one day to vest tops, sunhats and sandals the next without a period of acclimatisation in between. Add to this the fact that, as previously mentioned, Callum is reading until all hours and sleeping in later (Issac Newton's theory springs to mind "every action has an equal and opposite reaction") and we don't exactly have a lot of room in the day for getting things done before Phil is home and chaos reigns. Phil is also an Aspi (undiagnosed), but is one for strict routines (his, not ours) and woe betide we alter those or get in the way of them. So anything we want to do that requires the kitchen, utility room or the TV and often the garden too has to be completed before 3.30pm! Bit like school really. I know he would argue that he isn't like this at all, but having experienced the hrumphing and the moaning, I beg to differ.
So this week; what have we achieved? Monday wasn't too bad as we managed to write up our visit to the Imperial War Museum that happened the week before. We did separate write ups for each part of the day as the Art Exhibition was going into the colour and light project we are supposed to be doing and the museum part is in the unrelated days out folder. It appears we are doing rather a lot of those and I might have to go through it at the end of the 'school' year and perhaps pick bits out to expand upon into projects for next year. The write up took rather longer than expected as, as usual, we got sidetracked by conversation, questions and online searching. That's the one big thing that I love about home education, it can wander off topic, go onto lots of different pathways and then come full circle back to where we started. Found a really interesting website whilst having a conversation on timezones (don't ask how we got onto those as I can't remember) which had lots of other stuff on it too. We ended up 'playing' on here for ages:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
Tuesday was Faversham meet. Callum happy as quite a few of his mates were there, so he didn't end up reading the whole time. I did find it particularly funny though when I went to look for him as his mate and himself were in the computer room (no surprise there) but at opposite ends of the room talking to each other on Roblox (no surprise there either). Oh and he actually spoke to another adult! Well, I say spoke he answered her polite enquiries with stilted two word answers, but it's better than nothing. Davinia, you are honoured! hehe
Wednesday I didn't see him all day pretty much. Terri was over and as she needed to use the computer, he was upstairs in his room playing with his tanks and watching Family Guy and Have I Got News For You on his telly (he has Tivo in his room). Lots of laughter coming from his room with the added occasional 'explosion' from his game he'd made up.
Today he didn't surface until 9.50am!!!! And even then he was a bit lethargic - he'd been reading until gone 11pm the night before again. So we decided to have a PJ day and watch a documentary that I'd recorded about why we need the moon. It was really interesting and the presenter, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock was brilliant as it was explained in easy to understand terms (good for me as well, haha). It isn't on iPlayer that I can see, but the link below has some information and clips. Well worth watching if you can find it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00yb5jp
This afternoon we dug out Callum's Alpine trough (well it's an old sink to be precise) and repotted with some salvaged old plants and some new ones we bought at the garden festival a few weeks back.
We just need to get some more gravel to fill in the spaces, but it's now looking a lot more healthy than it did as it was overgrown with weeds and unwanted seedlings.
Anyway, that's about it. Ice skating tomorrow and then we are intending to plant some more seeds in the garden and into pots in the afternoon.
Cya
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
YAWN!
Hi all
Today was one of those days where being home educated worked wonders. I woke up at 5am this morning and could not get back to sleep, so spent the next 2.5hrs drinking tea, eating a bowl of cereal and watching TV progs I'd recorded for just such an occasion (although I was intending them to be the other end of the day). 7.30am arrived and I was expecting Callum up and about, so went off to do a morning cuppa for us both...he didn't appear. Ok, no worries, I sorted out the kitchen, sorted washing and cleared up the recycling, fed the dog, but still no Callum! 9.30am I decided I needed to check he was ok, he was, he was fast asleep! Typical, I wake early and he sleeps in, never mind.
He woke up about 15mins later in a right mood and complaining of a headache. Hmmm, avoid for a few mins I think. Admittedly I was beginning to flag by this point.
10am and after my bath and him getting dressed, he says that he's knackered! He's knackered? Pah!
"Do I have to do anything this morning?"
"Well, maths and literacy would be good, but we do have Mad Science trip this afternoon."
He pulls a face and flops on the sofa.
"You're not in the mood are you?" I say
"No! I'm tired and I want to go on the computer."
By this point, I'm really not in the mood either, I just fancy pottering about.
"Sod it then."
"Really?"
"Yep, I'm tired too and we do have all day tomorrow and we did stuff all day yesterday, so let's have the rest of the morning off?"
"Yay!" He perks up immediately and runs to the computer.
"Hang on! Get your stuff ready first!"
"Ok"
He decides to have brunch as its almost 11am by now, so scrambled egg, baked beans and toast, which he happily munches his way through.
12.15pm we are picked up by Lorraine and Amy and head off to Sittingbourne for Mad Science. We get a bit lost, but manage to find it after asking directions, and are only about 10mins late (we weren't the only ones).
Science show was fab...carbon dioxide (dry ice) today with lots of experiments on the fun of it all. They even got to taste it in water and had it blown (in gas form) over them like in a scary movie. And we got to keep the cups (they colour change)! Which reminds me, we still have Amy's cup I think. Whoops!
Back home and Lorraine and I have a couple of cuppas and Amy and Callum play in the garden for a while. No sooner have they gone and he's back on computer, but he was off again by 6pm tonight. Does this mean the game is losing its appeal or did he just fancy having a break...no, he'd got another headache so decided to go upstairs and chill in his room for a bit. Can now hear him giggling away watching TV.
As to me, I've just printed off all the science sheets we need to do and I'm going to flake out in front of the TV later. Hope I have a better night's kip.
Cya
Today was one of those days where being home educated worked wonders. I woke up at 5am this morning and could not get back to sleep, so spent the next 2.5hrs drinking tea, eating a bowl of cereal and watching TV progs I'd recorded for just such an occasion (although I was intending them to be the other end of the day). 7.30am arrived and I was expecting Callum up and about, so went off to do a morning cuppa for us both...he didn't appear. Ok, no worries, I sorted out the kitchen, sorted washing and cleared up the recycling, fed the dog, but still no Callum! 9.30am I decided I needed to check he was ok, he was, he was fast asleep! Typical, I wake early and he sleeps in, never mind.
He woke up about 15mins later in a right mood and complaining of a headache. Hmmm, avoid for a few mins I think. Admittedly I was beginning to flag by this point.
10am and after my bath and him getting dressed, he says that he's knackered! He's knackered? Pah!
"Do I have to do anything this morning?"
"Well, maths and literacy would be good, but we do have Mad Science trip this afternoon."
He pulls a face and flops on the sofa.
"You're not in the mood are you?" I say
"No! I'm tired and I want to go on the computer."
By this point, I'm really not in the mood either, I just fancy pottering about.
"Sod it then."
"Really?"
"Yep, I'm tired too and we do have all day tomorrow and we did stuff all day yesterday, so let's have the rest of the morning off?"
"Yay!" He perks up immediately and runs to the computer.
"Hang on! Get your stuff ready first!"
"Ok"
He decides to have brunch as its almost 11am by now, so scrambled egg, baked beans and toast, which he happily munches his way through.
12.15pm we are picked up by Lorraine and Amy and head off to Sittingbourne for Mad Science. We get a bit lost, but manage to find it after asking directions, and are only about 10mins late (we weren't the only ones).
Science show was fab...carbon dioxide (dry ice) today with lots of experiments on the fun of it all. They even got to taste it in water and had it blown (in gas form) over them like in a scary movie. And we got to keep the cups (they colour change)! Which reminds me, we still have Amy's cup I think. Whoops!
Back home and Lorraine and I have a couple of cuppas and Amy and Callum play in the garden for a while. No sooner have they gone and he's back on computer, but he was off again by 6pm tonight. Does this mean the game is losing its appeal or did he just fancy having a break...no, he'd got another headache so decided to go upstairs and chill in his room for a bit. Can now hear him giggling away watching TV.
As to me, I've just printed off all the science sheets we need to do and I'm going to flake out in front of the TV later. Hope I have a better night's kip.
Cya
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